Hot water heater for automobiles



R. H. GRIFFITHS HOT WATER HEATER FOR AUTOMOBILES May 28, 1935.

Filed Nov. 8, 1934 Patented May 28, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOT WATER HEATER FOR AUTOMOBILES Application November 8, 1934, Serial No. 752,085

4 Claims.

This invention relates to heating units of the type in which air is forced through a casing containing a heat radiator and is particularly useful in the heating of automobiles.

In the usual hot water heater for automobiles, a casing for supporting a hot water radiator is attached to the car, usually to the dash board, between the floor and the instrument board. Hot water from the engine cooling sy tem is circulated through the radiator, and a fan, usually driven by an electric motor from the ignition battery, is used to circulate the air through the radiator. Heretofore it has been proposed to provide deflectors which would direct the heated air where most desired, but such deflectors have been so mounted as to obstruct direct flow of air from the delivery face of the radiator, have been of complicated structure, have not been adapted completely to shut off the flow of air when in closed position, and have been so constructed as to cause noise and vibration.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide simplicity of construction and freedom from noise and vibration, to accomplish complete closing of the device when desired, and unobstructed flow of air from the delivery face of the radiator when in use.

Other objects will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawing.

Of the drawing:

Fig. l is a central vertical view, partly in section showing the complete heater unit in its preferred form, the deflector being shown in full lines in its closed position, and in dot and dash lines in one of its open positions.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the heater unit, the deflector being shown in closed position in full lines and partially broken away to show the radiator, other open positions of the deflector being shown in dot and dash lines.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral II] designates a hollow metal casing, open at the front and rear and terminating at the rear in a pair of tubular extensions II, II. The extensions are externally threaded as at I2 so that clamping nuts may be screwed thereon to retain the extensions in engagement with the dash board of the automobile through openings in which they are adapted to extend.

The hot water unit comprises a radiator I3 of thin metal having numerous passages therethrough from front to rear for the passage of air, and water circulating spaces around the air passages. Rigid pipes I4 and I5 communicate with the Water passages of the radiator and extend through the tubular extensions II, II' to provide flow and return passages for the hot water. The radiator I3 is supported from the casing IE1 by blocks I6 of resilient rubber, and resilient bushings I1 of the same material are placed around the pipes I4 and I5 where they pass through the tubular extensions I I, I I, to prevent vibration.

The front of the casing I0 is partially covered by an ornamental frame I8 defining a preferably circular opening I9 for the escape of heated air.

A swivel shackle 20 is rotatably mounted on the frame I8, to which it is frictionally held by a coil spring 2| and nut 2Ia. A pair of links 22 are pivoted at one end to the shackle 20 and at their opposite ends are pivo l to another shackle 23 fixed to the center of a dished or conical deflector 24. A convenient handle 25 serves as a nut to retain shackle 23 and also to manipulate the deflector. The joints between the links 22 and their shackles are frictionally held against accidental movement of the links by spring tension washers 26 or other similar means. The arrangement is such that in closed position the deflector covers the opening I9 and may be swung outward- 1y as shown in the dot and dash line position shown in Fig. 1 and tipped from side to side as indicated by the dot and dash line positions in Fig. 2, the movement being universal within the limits prescribed by the length of the links 22.

In order more perfectly to seal the opening I9, when the deflector is in closed position, and to provide cushioning of the edge of the deflector when it rests against the frame I8, when adjusted to a deflecting attitude, a soft rubber cushioning ring 2! is mounted upon the margin of the deflector. This ring preferably is retained by its natural elasticity, being molded slightly smaller in circumference than the deflector, and being formed with an internal annular groove to engage over the edge of the deflector.

The device is of course provided with the usual fan 28 and fan motor 29, which conveniently may be mounted upon a brace 30 attached to the casing I0.

I claim:

1. A heating unit comprising a casing defining an opening in its face, a heat radiator enclosed thereby, means for directing air through the casing toward said opening, and a single heat deflector pivotally mounted on the casing and adapted to assume a plurality of positions with respect thereto and in one of its positions completely to close said opening.-

2. A heating unit comprising a casing defining an opening in its face, a heat radiator enclosed thereby, means for forcing air through the casing toward said opening, a single heat deflector pivotally mounted on the casing and adapted to assume a plurality of positions with respect thereto and in one of its positions completely to close said opening, and a resilient gasket adapted to cushion the margin of said deflector.

3. A heating unit comprising a casing defining an opening in its face, a heat radiator resiliently mounted within said casing, means for directin air through the casing toward said opening, a conical heat deflector mounted for universal movement with respect to said casing and adaptnon-parallel pivotal axes and in one of its positions completely to close said opening.

ROY H. GRIFFITHS. 

